Sheslay Airport

Economic reasons. Sheslay Airport was a private, unregistered aerodrome built and maintained to support resource exploration, primarily mining activities, in the remote Sheslay River region. The closure was a direct result of the suspension or conclusion of the specific exploration projects it served, which eliminated the need for the airstrip and made its continued maintenance economically unviable.

The site is abandoned and unmaintained. Satellite imagery confirms the presence of a single gravel runway that is slowly being reclaimed by nature, with vegetation encroaching on the surface and edges. There are no buildings, fuel services, or any other aviation infrastructure remaining at the site. While the runway's outline is still visible from the air, its surface condition is unknown and it is considered unsafe for use except potentially by highly experienced bush pilots in an emergency situation at their own extreme risk.

Sheslay Airport was a crucial piece of infrastructure for the mining and exploration industry in a remote part of British Columbia's 'Golden Triangle,' a region rich in mineral deposits. Its primary function was to provide air access to an area otherwise difficult to reach. Operations consisted almost exclusively of charter and private flights by bush planes, such as the de Havilland Beaver and Otter, and Cessna aircraft. These planes transported geologists, workers, supplies, and equipment to and from exploration camps. The airport was never intended for public use and had no scheduled commercial services.

There are currently no known plans or prospects for reopening Sheslay Airport. Any potential for reactivation is entirely dependent on future large-scale resource extraction or industrial projects commencing in the immediate vicinity that would require local air support. Should a major project like the nearby Schaft Creek mine become fully operational, it is more likely that developers would construct a new, modern, and certified airfield to meet their specific needs rather than attempt to rehabilitate this small, abandoned strip.